Bracket construction

ABSTRACT

A versatile, collapsible shelf bracket having a seperable compressive diagonal brace interconnected with the bracket in a special manner providing lateral stability and enabling the brace to form a special added end support, the load placed thereon being supported on the bracket upper leg.

United States Patent [151 3,695,569 Pullan 1 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] BRACKET CONSTRUCTION 476,994 6/1892 Ellis ..248/247 2,908,471 10/1959 Hollansworth ..248/247 lnvemor- $3 2 Grand 498,027 5/1893 Recht ..248/247 16 1,856,044 4/1932 Stowell ..248/247 [73] Assignee: Knape & Vogt Manufacturing Company Grand Rapids, Mich. Primary Exarnmer-Wilham H. Schultz [22] F1 d May 14 1970 Attorney-Price, Heneveld, l-luizenga & Cooper 1e 3 y [2]] Appl. No.: 37,180 [57] ABSTRACT A versatile, collapsible shelf bracket having a seperable compressive diagonal brace interconnected with I52] U.$. Cl. the bracket in a special manner providing lateral sub [5]] int. Cl. bility and enabling the brace to f a Special added of Search end support the load placed thereon being supported I on the bracket upper leg. [56] References Cited 2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnum m I 3.695.569 I sum 1 or 3 INVENTOR. 00440 C. P; LAM

BY MZ/ PATENIEDoma m2 SHEET 2 BF 3 u R 2 my V 9 w 2 PAIENTEDum 1912 3.695.569

SHEETSUFS FIG. 6.

- INvEN'roR. V eat/4A0 C. flLL/M/ BY W BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a shelf bracket assembly, and more particularly to a collapsible one having a unique removable brace connection.

Shelf brackets with diagonal braces have been known in the art for many years, for example, those in US. Pat. Nos. 476,994 (Ellis), 498,027 (Recht), and 2,908,471 (Hollansworth). Further, to cause the diagonal brace to be removable is taught by Recht. The type of brace taught by Recht, however, does not significantly stabilize the bracket against lateral stresses. further, while the brace of Ellis does tend to stabilize against lateral stresses, it is not removable for handy shipping and is dependent upon crimping of the leg metal over it to hold it in place under stress. With overloading, this crimped bracket is subject to drastic failure by the brace breaking loose from the crimp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I he supported on the outer end of the brace, with the load being transmitted to the bracket leg.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the novel bracket assembly shown installed and supporting a shelf;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the novel bracket assembly, showing in phantom lines how the brace may be removed;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the bracket assembly;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the bracket assembly;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the novel bracket assembly;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the novel bracket assembly;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, sectional, elevational, fragmentary view taken on plane VII-VII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is the view of the apparatus in FIG. 7, but showing the lower end of the diagonal brace being removed from the bracket leg; and

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged, sectional, elevational, fragmentary view taken on plane IX-IX of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, the shelf bracket assembly 10 is composed of a generally L- shaped bracket member 12, and a diagonal brace member 14.

Member 12 has two legs generally normal to each other, for usual installations, the one leg 12a being generally vertical when in installed orientation, and the second leg 12b being generally horizontal when in installed orientation. These legs are integrally joined at the bight 12c. The bracket is preferably formed of sheet metal, bent to form bight 12c, having an elongated boss rig 12d formed along its length at least at the terminal portions of the legs where brace 14 interconnects. This rib extends along the centerline of the bracket legs, forming a protrusion on the inside surfaces of the legs, i.e., the surface opposite the wall-engaging surface of the vertical leg, and the lower surface opposite the shelf-engaging surface of the horizontal leg. This leaves a groove or depression 123 along the outer bracket leg surfaces, straddled by wall-engaging shoulders or flanges l2e on the vertical leg and self-engaging shoulders or flanges 12f on the horizontal leg.

In the terminal lower portion oifrib 12d of vertical leg 12a is a recess means 18, which may be an opening, for receiving the lower end of diagonal brace 14. This is shown as a horizontally elongated slot to receive the correspondingly flattened lower end 14a of the brace rod, with at least the upper one of the adjacent shoulders 14b on the brace engaging the edge area of the slot (FIG. 7).

In the free terminal portion of horizontal leg 12b is an elongated opening 20 in rib 12d through which the upper end of brace 14 extends. The brace rod has a horizontal offset 14c adjacent this opening. I.e., the diagonal rod extends generally horizontally from a position spaced a short distance toward the bight from opening 20 (so as to engage the undersurface of the rib of leg 12b to a position beneath opening 20, and then extends upwardly at 14d (directly vertically or, if desired, at a diagonal angle as shown) through opening 20 to the elongated recess or groove 123. At this groove, portion 142 of rod 14 again extends horizontally along the groove and beyond the end of leg 12b. The vertical segment 14d engages the edge of opening 20 when the brace is engaged in compressed condition in the bracket. Thus, between the engagement of portion with the underside of leg 12b and portion 14d with the edge of opening 20, the brace being into interengaged relation with the bracket leg. Extended end portion 14f rod of 14 preferably is hookshaped. It forms an article support hanger.

After manufacture, the two parts 12 and 14 of the shelf bracket assembly can (FIG. packed and shipped in disassembled condition, thereby enabling their packing with other like elements for saving on shipping expense and storage space.

To assemble these parts, brace rod 14 is inserted through opening, in either direction FIG. 2), until offset l4c is adjacent opening 20 and segment 14d extends through opening 20. To engage the flattened lower end 14a of brace 14 into slot 18, legs 12a and 12b are spread slightly further apart momentarily, end 14a is aligned with slot 18, and legs 12a and 12b are then allowed to return to their original position under the inherent resilience of bracket 12. This engages the lower brace end with leg 12a and interengages the other end of brace 14 with leg 12b with a binding relation at opening 20.

The assembly can be assembled first and then mounted to the wall, or alternatively the support 12 can be attached to the wall first, and then the brace 14 as sembled to it. The screw holes are offset laterally with respect to the brace bar, astraddle it, so that the screws can be inserted without interference from an already assembled brace, or thebrace can be inserted without interference from already mounted screws.

The bracket assembly is mounted to a wall surface W by fasteners 22 through openings 24 in leg 12.4. At least one other bracket assembly (not shown) is also normally mounted to the wall, so that shelf or the like will rest on and can be attached to leg 12b by fasteners 26 through openings 28 in leg 12B.

Lateral stresses applied to the brackets are resisted by the close relation of elongated rod portion 146 with the straddling wall areas of groove 12g along which it extends in generally coaxial relationship. Portion l4e lies below surfaces 12f to not interfere with shelf support thereon.

Load applied to hook support 14f is transmitted to leg 12b by portion Me to enable load distribution over the bracket assembly.

If it is desired to again disassemble the bracket assembly, the legs of bracket 12 are momentarily spread further (FIG. 8) to allow end 14a to drop out of slot 18, enabling brace 14 to be withdrawn through opening 20.

Basically, the novel bracket assembly is stable, versatile, easy to assemble and disassemble, sturdy, relatively easy to manufacture, and relatively less expensive to store and ship.

It is conceivable that certain structural changes could be made in the details of the structure without departing from the scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claim attached hereto, and the reasonable equivalents thereto, rather than to the details of the preferred embodiment set forth herein.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. A collapsible braced shelf bracket assembly comprising: a generally Lshaped bracket, having one leg with an compression; surface for attachment to a vertical support and a second leg with an outer upper surface for mounting a shelf thereon; a rod extending between the end portions of said legs to form a diagonal compression brace; said second leg having an embossment at least adjacent its outer terminal portion, with an opening through said embossment; one end of said rod extending through said embossment; one end of said rod extending through said opening and having an offset portion adjacent said opening; said one leg having an embossment at least adjacent its lower terminal portion, with recess means in said embossment; the second end of said rod being removably receivable in said recess means with momentary further spreading of said legs; said offset portion of said rod being put in a binding condition in said opening when said second rod end is put in said recess and said rod is put into compresslon; said embossment of said second leg forming an elongated recess at said outer upper surface extending from said opening; said one end of said rod lying along said elongated recess when said rod is put into compression; said one end of said rod extending beyond the end of said second bracket leg and forming a support.

2. A collapsible braced shelf bracket assembly comprising: a generally L-shaped bracket, having one leg with an outer surface for attachment to a vertical support and a second leg with an outer upper surface for mounting a shelf thereon; a rod extending between the end portions of said legs to form a diagonal compression brace; said second leg having an embossment at least adjacent its outer terminal portion, with an opening through said embossment; one end of said rod extending through said opening and having an offset portion adjacent said opening; said one leg having an embossment at least adjacent its lower terminal portion, with recess means in said embossment; the second end of said rod being removably receivable in said recess means with momentary further spreading of said legs; said offset portion of said rod being put in a binding condition in said opening when said second rod end is put in said recess and said rod is put into compression; said embossment of said second leg forming an elongated recess at said outer upper surface extending from said opening; said one end of said rod lying along said elongated recess when said rod is put into compression; said recess in said second leg extending from said opening to the end of said second leg; said one end of said rod extending beyond the end of said second leg and being formed into a support beyond said end of said second leg.

22 7 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,695 .569 Dated October 3, 1972 Inventor-(s) R lld C 2 11 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2 line 15;

"rig" should be rib Col. 2 line 54;

"being" should be binds 0 Col. 2, line 57;

After "can" omit "(Fig.".

Col. 2, line 57;

After "can" insert be Claim 1, lines 5 and 6;

Omit "one end of said rod extending through said embossment;".

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I I. FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCIIALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A collapsible braced shelf bracket assembly comprising: a generally L-shaped bracket, having one leg with an compression; surface for attachment to a vertical support and a second leg with an outer upper surface for mounting a shelf thereon; a rod extending between the end portions of said legs to form a diagonal compression brace; said second leg having an embossment at least adjacent its outer terminal portion, with an opening through said embossment; one end of said rod extending through said embossment; one end of said rod extending through said opening and having an offset portion adjacent said opening; said one leg having an embossment at least adjacent its lower terminal portion, with recess means in said embossment; the second end of said rod being removably receivable in said recess means with momentary further spreading of said legs; said offset portion of said rod being put in a binding condition in said opening when said second rod end is put in said recess and said rod is put into compression; said embossment of said second leg forming an elongated recess at said outer upper surface extending from said opening; said one end of said rod lying along said elongated recess when said rod is put into compression; said one end of said rod extending beyond the end of said second bracket leg and forming a support.
 2. A collapsible braced shelf bracket assembly comprising: a generally L-shaped bracket, having one leg with an outer surface for attachment to a vertical support and a second leg with an outer upper surface for mounting a shelf thereon; a rod extending between the end portions of said legs to form a diagonal compression brace; said second leg having an embossment at least adjacent its outer terminal portion, with an opening through said embossment; one end of said rod extending through said opening and having an offset portion adjacent said opening; said one leg having an embossment at least adjacent its lower terminal portion, with recess means in said embossment; the second end of said rod being removably receivable in said recess means with momentary further spreading of said legs; said offset portion of said rod being put in a binding condition in said opening when said second rod end is put in said recess and said rod is put into compression; said embossment of said second leg forming an Elongated recess at said outer upper surface extending from said opening; said one end of said rod lying along said elongated recess when said rod is put into compression; said recess in said second leg extending from said opening to the end of said second leg; said one end of said rod extending beyond the end of said second leg and being formed into a support beyond said end of said second leg. 